Pickleball in Europe is growing fast — but what makes it special isn't the numbers. It's the people. The families who travel together, the players who come back from injury, the teenagers chasing a dream, the clubs building something new.

This first issue of the WPC Series Magazine is dedicated to them. Seventy percent of these pages are about people and their stories; the rest is about the game and the places it takes us. We hope you feel, reading it, the same thing we feel organising these events: that this is a community worth belonging to.

— Sergio Ruiz Caro
The WPC Europe Team

His advice is mature beyond his years: don't focus on results — with work, effort and joy, everything comes.

What kept her motivated through recovery was simple: the desire to get back on court and compete. "I never stopped believing I would return, and that hope was what helped me keep working every day." Now, months into competing again, the feeling is "incredible" — she enjoys every training session and every match far more than before. "After everything I went through, I value enormously being able to do what I love most."

The time away changed her, on court and off. "The injury made me mature so much. I learned a lot about myself, about the things I needed to improve, and about the importance of caring for both body and mind."

For María, Zcebra is family. As one of the team's key players she represents values she identifies with — effort, fight, humility and the hunger to keep growing. The loyalty runs both ways: the moment she was injured, before anyone knew when she would compete again, Xiana chose to renew her contract. "That gesture says a lot about the trust they have in me, and I try to repay it every day."

To anyone discovering the brand, her message is to try it — quality kit for every kind of player and budget — but above all, the human side. "They make you feel part of the family from day one."

Coming to Alba carries a special charge — it will be the first time she plays in Italy, a country tied to her own roots. "The WPC Series is growing a lot, it brings together great players, and I think it'll be a very attractive circuit." Her goal is to enjoy it, compete at the highest level and go as far as possible. "Hopefully I can fight for the finals."

Beyond Alba, she wants to hold the level she's shown this year, keep growing as a player, and finish as high as she can in the ranking.

1. Play the percentages. The smartest shot is rarely the flashiest. Keep the ball deep, make your opponent move, and wait for the error rather than forcing it.

2. Own the kitchen line. Get to the net together and hold it. The team that controls the non-volley zone controls the point.

3. Master the third shot. The drop is the great equaliser. It takes the pace off, buys you time to move up, and turns defence into position. Drill it until it's automatic.

4. Communicate every rally. Doubles is a conversation. Call the middle, call the switches, and never leave a gap in silence.

5. Target the middle. Balls down the centre split the team, create hesitation, and shrink your opponents' angles. When in doubt, go middle.

6. Win the reset war. Patience beats power at the top level. The pair that stays calm under fire — resetting hard balls softly — is the pair that wins the long rallies.

When the pace lifts and you're under pressure, the reset buys you time. The secret isn't power — it's a soft, relaxed hand and an early, low paddle. Let the ball come to you; absorb its speed rather than fighting it.

The jump to competition is mental as much as technical. Train with intention, embrace the pressure of close games, and treat every loss as information. The players who improve fastest stay curious — and enjoy the process.

When the club committed to pickleball, Alessandro knew facilities alone would never be enough. "I wanted people who shared the same dream." That search led him to respected coach Pep Giuliano — "from the beginning I understood that Pep was a true professional, and that we wanted exactly the same thing." The team has since grown with Mike English, whose international background helps welcome players from around the world.

Players don't travel to Alba simply to play pickleball — they come for an experience. "What makes our club special is the atmosphere and the passion of every person working here," from reception and restaurant staff to the coaches and the pool-bar team. The club has already welcomed international visitors and world-class pros including Andrei Daescu and Zane Navratil.

By the end of 2026, Alessandro expects more than 1,000 visiting players to have trained or competed at Tennis Club Alba. "We already have hundreds of players coming before the WPC event, and that number continues to grow."